I will preface this comment by saying I am not in any way, shape, or form a draft guru. I don't watch college ball, and pretty much don't follow the players leading up to the draft.

I thought the FO did a pretty good job of addressing needs. Whether you liked the Ziggy pick or not, the team needed an injection of youth on the DL. Maybe he does turn out to be a bust, but I trust Tomlin and Colbert to get the right guys into the 'Burgh, and if they think he deserved 1.32, then he did.

I like the 3rd round triple play as well. Got a CB, G, and speedster WR/KR. All needs for the defending Super Bowl Champions. Hopefully Wallace doesn't turn out like another 3rd round speedster pick, Willie Reid.

I really like the Summers pick. Buh Bye, Carey "Stopped for no gain" Davis. And really, 5th-7th rounders are just prospect mining. Maybe you find dirt, but maybe you find a nugget.

I, personally, didn't think Hartwig played that bad last year. Yes, he had his moments, but he had KS, then basically a rook on his right all year. The OL had no continuity last season. Only Hartwig and Colon were consistently in the lineup, and this hurt their ability to play well together. They started to gell at the end, and we all know how last year ended ( with big help from #7), so I actually think the OL will be OK next year. And thats all they have to be, just OK. Ben will do the rest.

I'm a little surprised with all the negativity about Hood, which I think is a little unwarranted. Nobody here is a draft expert, or they would be working for a team/network, so let's just wait to see how he works out before being so down on him. Remember, this organization has won 2 SB's in 4 years pretty much due to their drafting abilities, and have a proven track record with evaluating Day 1 talent.

Throw in RM, Sweed, and Robo-punter, and there is no reason (other than a regression with the OL) why this team can't be in 7th Heaven come next Feb.

Without reading back through the last couple of pages... I thought this was an excellent draft for the Steelers...

RG Urbik that could compete for the starting position in 09... but probably needs to polish the edges for a '10 competition. A center project in Shipley (who I really like...). That makes me think at least we have an option in '10 if Hartwig isn't upped. As I suspected, no pics of tackles...since Colon will be around for 2 more, and Max's situation is still unresolved.

Several DL (Hood, Harris, picks, including a likely replacement for Kiesel in 10' (Hood). Granted I'd rather would have seen them trade up a few slots to get a higher impact DL, but am satisfied with Hood.

4th CB in Lewis.

Burnett, Wallace, and Summers.... IMO, all of the above have the potential to make the team.

The biggest unanswered question I have on this draft is who will play NT in '10. Maybe that will be our 1st round pic next year.

The biggest unanswered question I have on this draft is who will play NT in '10. Maybe that will be our 1st round pic next year.

We have 3 big man spots to fill next year, and 2 the following year. We can't afford to take any little guys for the next 2 drafts. That means that the running backs have to hold up, the recivers have to hold up, the CB's have to hold up, and Farrior has to hold up.

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"Fanatics are picturesque. Mankind would rather see gestures than listen to reason." - Friederich Nietzsche

Even if Hills and Urbik happen by some miracle to work out, the best the steelers do is to cut the sacks to 39 instead of 49, and raise the yards per carry to 3.5. This defense better be ready to carry the team again.

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"Fanatics are picturesque. Mankind would rather see gestures than listen to reason." - Friederich Nietzsche